British ESA astronaut, Tim Peake, to run the Digital Virgin Money London Marathon in space with RunSocial

Tim Peake, the first British ESA astronaut to go to the International Space Station, will run where no man has run before thanks to RunSocial, the pioneer of mixed reality running technology.

From space Tim, who is running to raise awareness for The Prince’s Trust, will be running the official Digital Virgin Money London Marathon which is available for download in the RunSocial mobile app from the App Store.

Britain’s Tim Peake, European Space Agency astronaut, in training for the Digital Virgin Money London Marathon on 24 April 2016. Tim’s six month mission on the International Space Station begins on 15 December 2015. Picture Bob Martin for Virgin Money London Marathon This picture may only be used with permission from Penny Dain at London Marathon

Britain’s Tim Peake, European Space Agency astronaut, in training for the Digital Virgin Money London Marathon on 24 April 2016. Tim’s six month mission on the International Space Station begins on 15 December 2015. Picture Bob Martin for Virgin Money London Marathon This picture may only be used with permission from Penny Dain at London Marathon

Britain’s Tim Peake, European Space Agency astronaut, in training for the Digital Virgin Money London Marathon on 24 April 2016. Tim’s six month mission on the International Space Station begins on 15 December 2015. Picture Bob Martin for Virgin Money London Marathon This picture may only be used with permission from Penny Dain at London Marathon

Runners anywhere, including those not fortunate enough to get a place through the ballot for the Virgin Money London Marathon, can now see, experience and train using an interactive video of the full iconic 26.2 mile route.

The route Tim will be running was developed by London Marathon Events in partnership with RunSocial. The course was filmed in HD video during the 2013 and 2014 Virgin Money London Marathons and has been converted into an interactive ‘mixed reality’ video, which runners watch as they run on a treadmill.

Britain’s Tim Peake, European Space Agency astronaut, in training for the Digital Virgin Money London Marathon on 24 April 2016. Tim’s six month mission on the International Space Station begins on 15 December 2015. Picture Bob Martin for Virgin Money London Marathon This picture may only be used with permission from Penny Dain at London Marathon

The video playback matches the running speed and runners can also see, and run with, virtual reality avatars of runners from around the world who are also using the download.

Tim will have his own unique astronaut avatar within RunSocial so other runners will be able to recognise him.

Marc Hardy, RunSocial’s CEO and Co-founder said, “We’re thrilled that Tim is able to do this. RunSocial is at the frontier of digital fitness technology. We have a vision of enabling people to run wonderful real locations and events with friends and others live from anywhere, even up there.”

Jonathon Scott PHD Space Medicine Office, support for: BritainÕs Tim Peake, European Space Agency astronaut, in training for the Digital Virgin Money London Marathon on 24 April 2016. TimÕs six month mission on the International Space Station begins on 15 December 2015. Picture Bob Martin for Virgin Money London Marathon This picture may only be used with permission from Penny Dain at London Marathon

Britain’s Tim Peake, European Space Agency astronaut, in training for the Digital Virgin Money London Marathon on 24 April 2016. Tim’s six month mission on the International Space Station begins on 15 December 2015. Picture Bob Martin for Virgin Money London Marathon This picture may only be used with permission from Penny Dain at London Marathon

Britain’s Tim Peake, European Space Agency astronaut, in training for the Digital Virgin Money London Marathon on 24 April 2016. Tim’s six month mission on the International Space Station begins on 15 December 2015. Picture Bob Martin for Virgin Money London Marathon This picture may only be used with permission from Penny Dain at London Marathon

The Digital Virgin Money London Marathon is available to purchase now for £4.99 from the free RunSocial app on the App Store. A link to a free download will be sent in January to all 247,069 people who applied for a place in the 2016 event on Earth.

Available on the Apple App Store, this free app is designed to operate smoothly and quickly with the iPad Air, iPad mini and iPhones with the latest iOS.

All routes, along with free demos, are available for download within the app. For more information, including how to download the app, please visit: http://www.runsocial.com/.

What do you think of the RunSocial App and Tim Peake’s amazing challenge? Let us know in the comments section below or on our Twitter and Instagrampages.